Solar-powered sign to signal road jobs in Palmer

John Suchocki / The Republican09.21.2010 | PALMER - Richard P. Kaczmarczyk, Palmer Department of Public Works director, and Patricia A. Kennedy, acting town manager, look at a solar-power sign that will be used to warn drivers of road projects.

PALMER - Acting Public Works Director Richard P. Kaczmarczyk now has his own solar-powered sign that he can use at construction sites, which means that he no longer has to rent one at an extra cost to the town.

Kaczmarczyk recently got word from the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association that he successfully received a $4,750 grant to purchase the solar-powered sign board.

Before, he had to pay about $500 a week to rent a similar sign for road projects, or just use cones and barrels. He said he thinks the sign will be much easier for drivers to see.

“Every day you read about somebody getting hit,” Kaczmarczyk said.

He expects the sign to make its debut on Main Street soon in the area of Bridge Street where his crews will be working on manhole repair.

“This is a great thing for us, especially at night,” Kaczmarczyk said.

This isn’t the first grant that he has obtained from the agency. He also got $2,000 to purchase staging for his employees to use when they work on the trucks in the winter.

Acting Town Manager Patricia A. Kennedy said, “This is one of the many grants that we’ve received from MIIA, our insurer. We will continue to apply for them.”